John 15:16 “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.
Christians are often such a rush of activity in their service before The Lord. The problem is much of our activity is both exhausting and frustrating. It’s often kind of like trying to cut down a tree with an axe without an axehead. 2 Kings 6 talks about that. It seems like the harder we try to serve Him the more disappointed and worn out we get. The answer is not more determined doing, but more restful abiding. You see, as Branches we are fruit-bearers, not fruit producers. The Vine, Jesus, is the only one that can produce fruit, and His fruit remains, while leaving us Restful Branches refreshed and exhilarated. It’s not that we have less to do, often we are able to do much more when we are abiding, it’s just that we aren’t the ones trying, in our own energy, to do it. As Branches we are just restfully available to The Vine, who is gloriously able. There is nothing more exhausting than a determined branch trying to squeeze up some fruit. It’s much better to just abide and simply allow the fruit to appear.